Elongated stock cutting apparatus



p 19, 1967 D. H. MARGOLIEN 3,342,107

ELONGATED STOCK CUTTING APPARATUS Oz iginal Filed Sept. 1, 1964 UnitedStates Patent 3,342,107 ELONGATED STOCK CUTTING APPARATUS David H.Margolieu, 23206 Hatteras St., Woodland Hills, Calif. 91364 Originalapplication Sept. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 393,582, now Patent No. 3,263,544,dated Aug. 2, 1966. Divided and this application Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No.481,610

6 Claims. (CI. 90-17) This invention relates to a power cutter and, moreparticularly, to an improved power precision cutting apparatus.

This is a divisional application of an original application, Ser. No.393,582, filed Sept, 1, 1964 now Patent No. 3,263,544 issued Aug. 2,1966.

A number of power cutting machines which are especially useful forcutting off ends of material at desired angles are at presentcommercially available. The cutting capabilities and capacities as wellas the accuracy with which the cutting operations are performed by suchmachines vary greatly. Although a number of known machines perform withvarying degrees of success, they require skilled operators for theiroperation. For example, in cutting relatively large and heavy parts,such as steel bars or slabs, each part to be cut must first be placed ona support structure and then the cutting assembly with the cuttingmember of machine is positioned in relation to the particular positionof the part to be cut on the support structure, so that the part may becut about the desired surface and at the desired angle. Such a machinerequires highly skilled labor since the cutting member has to beprecisely positioned anew for each part to be cut.

In other known machines which are used to cut relatively smaller andlighter parts, the position of the cutting assembly is usually fixedwith respect to the rest of the machines structure. The desired cuttingoperation is performed by the operator positioning each part to be cutwith respect to the cutting member. Although such machines arerelatively simple to operate, they are limited in their use to nonmassproduction operations, since each part must be measured anew so that thecut part has the desired dimensions and shape. For example, in usingsuch a machine to out several pieces of elongated stock such as pipes,to a desired given length, the operator of the machine usually measureseach piece of pipe in order to determine the necessary condition of thepipe with respect to the machines cutting member so that each cut piecewill be of the desired length. Such an operation is further complicatedif one or more of the ends of a cut pipe is to form an angle other thana right angle with the longitudinal axis of the pipe and still maintainan accurate control over its length.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved cutting apparatus which eliminates some of the indicateddisadvantages of prior art machines.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedpower cutting apparatus in which the positions of specific structuralfeatures are interrelated to provide simple cutting operations.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a precisionpower cutting apparatus with simple operational controls so that it maybe used satisfactorily by relatively unskilled labor.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a powercutting apparatus which includes a novel support structure and measuringarrangement so that the speed and precision of the cutting operation aregreatly increased.

These and other objects of this invention may be achieved by employing acutting apparatus in which a central axis of the material to be cut,such as the longi- "ice tudinal axis of elongated stock, is maintainedperpendicular with respect to a central line across the surface of acutting member, irrespective of the angle formed between the surface ofthe cutting member and the longitudinal axis of the material to be cut.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cutting apparatuscomprises a cutting assembly and a cutting member such as a circular sawblade which are adapted to travel vertically about a vertical axis. Thecutting assembly including the saw blade is also rotatable about thevertical axis so that the surface of the cutting blade including thecenter of the blade is at all times aligned 'with the vertical axis. Thecutting apparatus also includes a support frame for releasably clampingthe elongated material to be cut with its longitudinal axisperpendicular to the vertical axis and aligned with the center of thesaw blade.

The angle at which the end of the elongated stock is cut is easilycontrolled by rotating the cutting saw blade about the vertical axisuntil the cutting surface of the blade is at the desired angle withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated stock. The cuttingapparatus of the invention also provides a scale for convenient displayof the length of the elongated stock along its longitudinal axis from apoint of intersection of the axis with the cutting blade. Another scaleis provided to display the angle between the surface of the cuttingblade and the longitudinal axis of the elongated stock.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself both as to its organization and method of operation, as well asadditional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood fromthe following description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan elevational view of a part to be cut in accordancewith the teachings of the present invention; and

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 1 which shows an isometric view of oneembodiment of the improved cutoff apparatus of the present invention. Asseen therein, the apparatus comprises a main structure 11 on which acutting assembly support frame 13 is secured by means of bolts 15 and17. A portion of the support frame 13 houses a shaft 13a verticallydisposed about a vertical axis designated V on which a cutting assembly19 is mounted. The assembly is vertically movable about the V axis,downward vertical travel being actuated by means of a hand lever 21. Thecutting assembly 19 includes a cutting member, such as a cutting wheel23, mounted on a shaft 25 which supplies rotary motion to the wheel 23from a source of power such as a conventional motor generally designatedby reference numeral 78.

The cutting assembly 19 is positioned on the shaft 13a so that thecenter of the wheel 23 and a central line diametrically drawn across thesurface 23 thereof such as a center line 27 shown in FIGURE 1, are atall times aligned with the vertical axis V. The entire cutting assembly19 including the cutting wheel 23 are also rotatably or pivotallymounted on the shaft 13a so that the wheel 23 may rotate or pivot aboutV axis, as indicated by a double arrow 31. However, irrespective of therotational position of the wheel 23 about the V axis, the central linethereof is at all times aligned with such axis. The rotational positionof the cutting surface 23a of the wheel 23 is calibrated as a functionof an angle between the surface 23a and zero reference plane VZ, suchplane being defined by an axis Z perpendicular to the previouslyreferred to V axis. Thus, when the surface 23a is in the VZ plane, therotational position of surface is deemed to be zero which isconveniently indicated on an angle readout scale 33 shown in FIGURE 1 aspart of the cutting assembly 19. The cutting assembly with the wheel 23thus may be rotated so that the surface 23a forms any desired angle withrespect to the plane VZ, such angle being conveniently read off thescale 33. The cutting surface 23a may be fixed at such an angle byreleasably clamping the assembly 19 by conventional means,diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 1 as a bolt 35 inserted through astationary housing 37 into a desired one of a plurality of positioningholes 39. Angular positions, other than those provided by the positionedholes 39, may be obtained by means of a locking lever 39a.

In addition to controlling the precise position of the surface 23a ofthe cutting wheel 23, so that the central line 27 is at all timesaligned with the V axis irrespective of the vertical movements of thecutting surface or the rotational position thereof about the VZ plane,the present invention also provides a support frame for supporting thematerial to be cut. Such an arrangement is shown in FIGURE 1 ascomprising a self-centering vise 41 and a chuck assembly 43 which isslidably mounted on a pair of ways 45 and 47 connected at one endthereof to the main structure 11, the other ends being supported by asupport post 49. The ways 45 and 47 are maintained in a horizontal planeso that the centers of a self-centering chuck 43a of the slidable chuckassembly 43 and the vise 41 are aligned with a horizontal axis X whichis perpendicularly oriented with respect to the V and Z axeshereinbefore described. The central line 27 of the surface 23apreviously described is oriented so that it is perpendicularly orientedwith res ect to the X axis which it intersects as the cutting assembly19 is moved vertically downward by means of the lever 21.

The vise 41 and the chuck assembly 43 shown in FIG- URE l are especiallyuseful for supporting elongated cylindrically-shaped stock, such as apipe 53 shown in FIG- URE l with its open end being clampedly supportedby the chuck 43a and a portion of its surface adjacent to the end to becut off, being clampedly supported by the selfcentering vise 41. Thelongitudinal axis of the pipe 53 is substantially aligned with the Xaxis.

As previously explained, the center line 27 of the surface 23a isoriented so that when the cutting wheel 23 is moved downwardly, itintersects the X axis. Since the longitudinal axis of the elongatedstock 53 is aligned therewith, it is seen that the center line of thecutting wheel 23 similarly intersects the central longitudinal axis ofthe pipe 53 which is to be cut. Such an arrangement provides a mostconvenient reference point along the longitudinal axis of the pipe,since the desired length of the pipe to be cut may be measured along itslongitudinal axis from such reference point.

As seen from FIGURE 1 the length of the pipe 53, projecting beyond thecutting wheel 23 towards the pipes open end which is clamped in thechuck 43a may be controlled by merely releasing, by means of a visehandle 41a, vise jaws 41b and 410 from clamping the pipe 53 and thensliding the chuck assembly 43 on the sliding ways 45 and 47 to aselected point. The point is selected so that the total length of thepipe along its longitudinal axis from the open end clamped in the chuck43a to the point of intersection of the axis with the center line 27 ofthe cutting surface 23a equals the desired length. The present invention greatly simplifies the measurements necessary to insure that thecut elongated stock be of a desired length. This is accomplished byproviding a direct reading scale 57 shown in FIGURE I mounted on thesliding way 47. This scale is calibrated so that the position of apointer 43b, fixed to the chuck assembly 43 with respect to the markingson the scale 57, provides a visual reading of the exact distance betweena surface within the chuck assembly 43 against which the open end of thepipe 53 abuts, and the point of intersection of the longitudinal axis ofthe pipe 53 and the central line 27 of the cutting wheel 23. Thus,knowing the desired length of an elongated cylindrical part along itslongitudinal axis, the pointer 43b of the chuck assembly is positionedwith respect to the scale 57 so that the desired length is indicatedthereon. Thereafter, the chuck assembly may be releasably fastened atthe desired position by means of a bolt 43c which is tightened againstthe way 45, Once the chuck assembly is fastened, an elongatedcylindrical part, such as the pipe 53, is inserted and clamped in thechuck 43a and the vise 41 and thereafter the cutting wheel 23 is loweredto intersect the pipe 53 and cut it at the desired length. As long asthe position of the chuck assembly is not altered, all pieces insertedtherein may be cut to the exact same length.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the improved cuttingapparatus of the present invention may be operated in accordance withsimple operational steps. The length of cylindrically-shaped elongatedstock to be cut, the length being defined along the longitudinal axis,is easily controlled by merely varying the position of the chuckassembly with respect to the direct reading scale 57 by a distance equalto the desired length.

The apparatus of the present invention is similarly operable with simpleoperational steps for controlling the angle at which the end of theelongated stock is cut off. As previously explained, the VZ plane isdeemed as the Zero reference plane for the rotational position of thecuting wheel 23. Thus, when the longitudinal axis of the elongated stockis perpendicular to such plane and the cutting wheel 23 is positioned sothat its surface 23a is in the VZ plane, the reading on the angle scale33 indicates a zero angle, thereby indicating that the angle of theelongated stock is cut off with its surface substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the stock. By controlling the rotationalposition of the cutting wheel 23 about the vertical V axis, the angleformed by the cutting wheel with respect to the VZ plane may beconveniently read olf the scale 33, thereby indicating the angle whichthe cut off end makes with the longitudinal axis of the elongatedstocked. The angle is conveniently controlled by merely reading off thedesired angle on the scale 33 and then releasably fastening the cuttingwheel 23 and the cutting assembly at such angular position.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scale 57 is usedto determine length of the elongated stock projecting beyond the cuttingwheel 23 rather than the length of stock between the chuck assembly 43and the cutting wheel 23. For a better understanding of the preferredembodiment of the invention, reference is made to FIGURE 2 which is aplan elevational view of a part of elongated stock to be cut accordingto the teachings disclosed herein. As seen from FIGURE 2, the part 53ais to be cut so that its end faces 53b and 53d are at angles offorty-five degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis 530, the facesbeing oriented to lie in planes perpendicular to one another. The lengthof the part 53a along its longitudinal axis is to be equal to L.

The part 53a may conveniently be cut in the embodiment of the inventionshown in FIGURE 1. The elongated stock 53 is first positioned in thevise 41 and chuck assembly 43 so that its open end is adjacent thecutting wheel 23. The cutting assembly is then oriented at an angle offorty-five degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stock 53so that the end face 5312 may be cut. Thereafter the chuck assembly 43is moved towards the cutting wheel 23 a distance L, such distance beingconveniently read off the scale 57. The end face 53d of the part 53a isthen cut off.

The angular relationship between the longitudinal axis of the part 53aand the end face 53d may be controlled by either of two convenienttechniques. The cutting assembly may be rotated by ninety degrees withrespect to its position when the end face 53b was cut so that the twoend faces are in planes substantially perpendicular to one another. Asecond technique of controlling the cutting of the end face 53dcomprises of rotating the elongated stock 53 about its longitudinal axisX as indicated by an arrow 53f. This is accomplished by rotating thechuck 43a within the assembly 43 so that the stock 53 is properlyoriented with respect to the cutting wheel 23 for the cutting of the endface 53d. In the foregoing example, after cutting the end face 53b andmoving the assembly 43 forward by a distance L, the chuck 43a is rotatedby 180 as indicated by a scale 43]- on the assembly 43. The chuck 43a isthen locked in by means of a locking bolt 43g and the end face 53d iscut so that the end faces 53b and 53d are in planes perpendicular to oneanother. This is accomplished without having to change the angularposition of the cutting wheel 23.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the length to which theelongated stock is to be cut is conveniently and simple controlled bycontrolling the position of the chuck assembly in relation to themarkings on the direct reading scale 57, as a function of the desiredlength of the stock along its longitudinal axis between its two ends.

Similarly, the angular relationship of the end faces of the stock to becut with respect to one another as well as the longitudinal axis of thestock is conveniently controlled by the angular position of the cuttingwheel 23 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stock. Also, therotational position of the stock about its longitudinal axis during thecutting of the two end faces of any desired part may be used to controlthe angular relationship of the end cut surfaces. Such simpleoperational controls enable relatively unskilled machinists to operatethe apparatus of the present invention after only a brief trainingperiod.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 3 wherein another embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in isometric view. As seen therefrom, in thepresent embodiment of the invention, a milling member 62 mounted on arotatable shaft 64 of a milling assembly 66 is used to mill radius cutsin an elongated stock such as a pipe 68. The milling assembly 66 isreleasably fastened to the main frame structure 11 by means of a bolt 72so that the longitudinal axis of the shaft 64 as well as the millingmember 62, are positioned at a selected angle with respect to azero-angle vertical reference plane VZ' defined by mutuallyperpendicular axes V' and Z. The selected angle is visually indicated bya marker 74 on angle scale 76 which performs a function similar to thatperformed by the scale 33 hereinbefore described in connection withFIGURE 1. Irrespective however of the angle between the reference planeV'Z and the longitudinal axis of the milling member 62, the center pointof the member 62 is positioned so as to lie at the point of intersectionof the V and Z axes. The milling member 62 rotates about itslongitudinal axis as the shaft 64 is rotated 'by a conventional motorgenerally designated by reference numeral 78.

The presently described embodiment of the invention further includes asupport structure for supporting the pipe 68 so that the longitudinalaxis thereof is at all times in a horizontal plane perpendicular to thevertical plane V'Z hereinbefore referred to. The support structure shownin FIGURE 3, which is similar to the support structure described inconjunction with FIGURE 1, comprises a centering stock support assembly80 which is slidable by means of a plurality of wheels 80a on a pair ofsliding ways 45 and 47, supported on one end by the support post 49 andon the other end by the frame 11. In addition, the support structureincludes a self-centering vise assembly 82, on which a self-centeringvise 82a is mounted. Vise jaws 82b and 820 are used to clamp the pipe 68near the end to be milled. The vise assembly 82 is slidably mounted onthe frame 6 11 adjacent the milling assembly 62 so that a section of thepipe 68 near the end to be milled is supported during the millingoperation.

The centering stock support assembly includes in addition to the wheels80, a self-centering chuck-like member 80b mounted on a shaft 800 whichis centrally disposed in a ring 80d. The ring 80d which is coupled tothe main structure of the assembly 80 by means of a shaft 80 whoselongitudinal axis is aligned in a Z" axis which is at all times parallelto the Z axis previously described. The assembly 80' which also includesa selfcentering vise 80g, is operable so that the longitudinal axis ofthe pipe 68 having one open end thereof located in the chuck-like member80b is oriented to be in a horizontal plane so that the longitudinalaxis is perpendicular to the V'Z' plane hereinbefore described. Inaddition, the longitudinal axis of the pipe 68 is aligned with respectto the center line of the milling member 62 so that the end of the pipe68 is in proper position with respect to the milling member for desiredradius outs to be milled therein.

As seen from FIGURE 3, the embodiment of the invention shown thereinalso includes a direct reading scale 84 which is calibrated to visuallyindicate distances along the longitudinal axis of the pipe 68 from acenter line drawn across the center of the milling member 62 alignedwith the axis V to the axis Z". An operator may thus convenientlydetermine the extent of milling required with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the pipe 68. Milling is accomplished by turning ahand lever 86 which is coupled to a feed shaft 88 slidably supported onone end by the frame 11, the other end thereto being connected to theassembly 80. By gradually turning the lever 86, the assembly 80, thevise assembly 82, including the pipe 68 clamped thereto, move toward themilling member 62 so that the desired radius cut may be milled therein.

The direct reading scale 84 is used by the operator to insure that theassembly is moved towards the milling member 62 only a distancesuflicient for the desired radius to be milled therein. The operation ofthe apparatus of the present invention is further improved by providingan adjustable stop 92 which is clampable by means of a handle 92a to thesliding way 47. The adjustable stop is positioned on the way 47 so thatthe assembly 80 is prevented by means of a protruding bracket 80h frommoving towards the milling member 62 beyond the position of theadjustable stop 92. Thus, the milled end of the pipe 68 cannot projectbeyond the vertical center line of the milling member 62.

In the foregoing description, the improved apparatus of the invention isdescribed in conjunction with cutting and milling elongated pipes 53 and68. Such description is presented for explanatory purposes only and isnot intended to limit the invention to cutting or millingcircularly-shaped cylindrical parts only. Rather, the invention isespecially directed to cutting and milling the ends of any elongatedstock within the dimensional capabilities of the apparatus. For example,rectangularly or squarelyshaped wooden or metallic bars or posts may becut off and/ or milled in accordance with the novel teachings disclosedherein.

In addition, the particular cutting wheel 23 and the milling member 62shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 respectively are presented for explanatorypurposes only. Other devices, such as a bandsaw may be used to cut offthe end of elongated stock without departing from the teachingsdisclosed herein. Similarly, other abrasive devices havingconfigurations other than that of the milling member 62 shown in FIGURE3 may be used to grind or mill desired radius cuts in the elongatedstock fed thereto.

Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents are intended tofall within the scope of the invent-ion as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for shaping the end of elongated stock having alongitudinal axis comprising fastening means for releasably fasteningsaid elongated stock; a shaping member having a center which is fixedlypositioned in a fixed central axis of reference; and means forreleasably rotating said shaping member about said fixed central axis ofreference to be at a predetermined angle with respect to saidlongitudinal axis of said elongated stock, while maintaining said fixedcentral axis of reference perpendicular to said longitudinal axis andmeans for rotating said shaping member about a longitudinal axis thereofto shape the end of said stock when engaging the surface thereof, withsaid center being fixedly positioned in said fixed central axis ofreference.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including readout means;and means for mounting said readout means adjacent said fastening meansto display the length of said stock along said longitudinal axis thereoffrom the position of the central axis at which the center of saidshaping member is fixedly positioned, to an opposite end of said stock.

3. An apparatus for milling an end of elongated stock to a predeterminedradial shape with respect to its longitudinal axis comprising: a millingmember having a center fixedly positioned; a fixed central axis ofreference; mounting means for mounting said milling member with saidcentral axis of reference established as a vertical reference axiswhereby the center of said milling member is fixed in said verticalreference axis; positioning means for positioning said elongated stockwith its longitudinal axis perpendicular to said vertical reference axisand aligned with the center of said milling member; means for pivotallypositioning said milling member about said vertical reference axis tomill the end of said elongated stock to said predetermined radial shapewith respect to its longitudinal axis; and means for moving saidpositioning means towards said milling member for engaging said millingmember with the end of the elongated stock to be milled, said apparatusfurther including means for rotating said milling member about alongitudinal axis thereof, with the center of said milling member beingfixedly positioned in said vertical reference axis.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 further including readout measuremeans; and means for attaching said readout measure means adjacent saidpositioning means, said readout measure means indicating the length ofsaid elongated stock from the center of said milling member which isfixedly positioned in said vertical reference axis to an end of saidstock opposite the milled end.

5. An apparatus for shaping elongated stock having a longitudinal axiscomprising:

stock support means for supporting elongated stock.

With the longitudinal axis in a first plane;

a shaping member having a center along with a longitudinal axis thereof;

positioning means for fixedly positioning said shaping member with thelongitudinal axis thereof in a second plane which is in a fixedperpendicular relationship to said first plane, said positioning meansincl-uding means for selectively positioning the longitudinal axis ofsaid shaping member to be at a selected angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of said elongated stock;

means for rotating said shaping member about the longitudinal axisthereof;

means for engaging said stock with said shaping member to shape saidelongated stock as a function of the engagement of the surface thereofWith said shaping member; and

means positioned adjacent said stock support means for displaying thelength of said stock along its longitudinal axis from the center of saidshaping member to a selected point of said stock.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 further including means in saidstock support means for controllably rotating the elongated stock aboutits longitudinal axis to control the orientation of said stock Withrespect to said shaping member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., PrimaryExaminer.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR SHAPING THE END OF ELONGATED STOCK HAVING ALONGITUDINAL AXIS COMPRISING FASTENING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY FASTENINGSAID ELONGATED STOCK; A SHAPING MEMBER HAVING A CENTER WHICH IS FIXEDLYPOSITIONED IN A FIXED CENTRAL AXIS OF REFERENCE; AND MEANS FORRELEASABLY ROTATING SAID SHAPING MEMBER ABOUT SAID FIXED CENTRAL AXIS OFREFERENCE TO BE AT A PREDETERMINED ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO SAIDLONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID ELONGATED STOCK, WHILE MAINTAINING SAID FIXEDCENTRAL AXIS OF REFERENCE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS ANDMEANS FOR ROTATING TO SHAPING MEMBER ABOUT A LONGITUDIANL AXIS THEREOFTO SHAPE THE END OF SAID STOCK WHEN ENGAGING THE SURFACE THEREOF, WITHSAID CENTER BEING FIXEDLY POSITIONED IN SAID FIXED CENTRAL AXIS OFREFERENCE.